Cheers, chants and hope for change: supporters thank Gisèle Pelicot for her bravery as rape trial ends

People hold placards as they gather in support of Gisèle Pelicot in front of the courthouse in Avignon. The slogans read ‘Christmas in prison, Easter in prison’ and ‘All the women on earth support you, thank you Gisele’. Photograph: Alexandre Dimou/Reuters

As Gisèle Pelicot walked down the steps of the Avignon courthouse at the end of the biggest rape trial in French history, hundreds of supporters who had travelled from across France and Europe burst into cheers and applause, chanting: “Thank you, Gisèle.”

Others stood with placards that read “shame has changed sides” in honour of her words, back in October, to explain why she was waiving her anonymity and facing down her rapists in court: “It’s not for us to have shame,” she said then. “It’s for them.”